Just got out of the open portion of practice. Those three periods seem to go by so fast. I have to concentrate like I'm taking the SAT's to get anything out of them, particularly considering I'm also taking photos. Here are my instant notes:
- I spent most of my time watching the wide receivers. That is because the Ducks had a new shiny guy practicing for the first time ever, Penn State transfer Juwan Johnson.
- As I noted before, he is big. Not just big but thick also. Bryan Addison has the same length, but I suspect JJ has 15 pounds on him. Addison is quite a bit thicker than last I saw him in December.
- Overall, the Ducks are way, way bigger and longer at WR heading into 2019. Addison and Johnson are both going to be terribly tough red zone match ups for DB's. I don't know what defenses will do personnel-wise if both of those two are out there.
- But size is not everything. Mycah Pittman and Josh Delgado both have a chance to help the team this year, particularly given that they are early enrollees. Like the DB group, I think the WR group will be very good this year. Heading into 2018 I was not nearly this confident in them.
- The same could be said for the OL. The Ducks have had many very good offensive lines over the years, but this one has the potential to be the best ever. Potential. That is the key. They might end up being average if they have injuries or don't progress as a unit.
- But with Cristobal as HC and all the help he's got coaching the group, I expect very big things out of them.
- The coaching vibe out there is the most energetic and youthful of the 15 years I have been covering the Ducks. Are they the best staff ever? That is impossible to say. I loved CK's staff, the guys that were here for years. But these guys definitely have the players' attention and are getting big effort out of them.
- I continue to be impressed with Coach Feld. He does a great job with the warm ups and I know he does a great job in the weight room as well. The Ducks are in great shape with the strength staff.
- Cristobal, I don't know what to say. I adore the guy, and the players do to. He is a real man who is so easy to respect. Watching him interact with the players, coaches and staff today (or any day) was impressive.
- Interesting that Cyrus Habibi-Likio was running with the ones today and Verdell was with the twos. Who knows if it was just for the initial periods that were open to media, but the fact they are mixing those guys up says a lot about the coaches' perception of the unit's depth potential.
- I'll be adding photos and even some videos throughout the day. We have interviews in about an hour and I'll hang out here at the HDC until then.
- All for now.
